Tuesday, November 9, 2010

D-blog Day

In honor of D-blog Day for Diabetes Awareness Month....I have officially "pulled the trigger" on getting Adam a pump.

Gulp.

I am scared, nervous and frankly, I just don't want to do this. I don't want my son attached to a pump. I don't want him on shots. I don't want him to have diabetes.

But I have to. I feel like I need to get this pump thing going so we can "move on" with our lives, so to speak. Does that make sense? I just want to get settled with the pump, accept it and move on. It's been this thing hanging over our heads for a few months - this huge unknown thing that is so scary to me, but I can't deny that everyone that has one for their kiddo says it's been great.

His blood sugars have been so wonky, and frankly, we are not getting a true BS measurement because of his constant grazing. I'm sorry...it has been really hard for me to nail down a 4 year old on an "eating schedule." It's just not happening. I am hoping that a pump will give us that flexibility and I'm praying that Adam will take to the pump and like it.

I've been emailing with Adam's endo for the last day and he's setting us up with an appointment with a CDE at the hospital so we can discuss all of the pumps. I really, really want to like the Omnipod, but I think that we are going to go with the Animas right now. Adam is still little...and in 4 years when it's time for a new pump, I can see the Omipod being our first choice. But right now, I think I need all the features the Animas has. Plus, the fact that my neighbor uses the Animas, so having 24/7 life support right there is awesome. :)

8 comments:

  1. Good luck with everything... we really want to pull the trigger on a pump, but the place we take Elise to for her endo visits makes it really tough... classes, homework and even a test. Hoping it makes life a lot easier for you guys!

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  2. The pump is good. We too looked at the Omnipod and felt it was too big for our 4 yr old and went with the Ping. (Omnipod will send you a free sample - just go to there website).
    @Joanne - our clinic did that too with the classes - and I thought it was a pain at the time, but now I totally see the wisdom. You know a lot more about what to expect so that when the pump finally arrives you will just need to concentrate on how to work it, not how pumping is different from shots. Good luck to both of you!

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  3. Good luck! I remember the mixed emotions I felt when Caleb starting pumping, but overall it's been fabulous (relative to injections at least).

    My son is now 7 and started pumping shortly after turning 4. He's used OmniPod that entire time and we've been pleased with it. If you have any questions you think I can answer, let me know. Otherwise, again I wish you luck Pinging. :)

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  4. Good Luck! In 6 months from now you will read back on this post and think "WOW! I am SO glad we did that!"
    The BEST part about pumping is that he will be able to graze freely. Having a 4 yo T1D myself I completely understand how valuable that is! =)

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  5. Good luck! It was hard for me too. Lovebug started using the pump just one week before out first Walk to Cure Diabetes. When we started walking it hit me that the pump she was wearing is keeping her alive. It still chokes me up. It gets easier though. Just remember, in the long run it will help him control those blood sugar numbers better and that is the goal. In 6 months you will be happy you did!

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  6. Best of luck to you! My daughter switched to the pump 6 months after diagnosis and we've never looked back. It has made a huge improvement in her A1C. I hope you have a good experience with it, and yay for having a neighbor with one as well!

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  7. You'll be very happy with it mama. I was totally scared to death (as I've said 40 times to you!) But you'll get the hang of it in no time and having a neightbor with the same one rocks! Remember...you can turn it off and stop the insulin! It took many lows and a shit ton of juice last summer before I finally got it through my damn head to just turn the damn thing off for a bit until the BG started to come up!!! HAHA! That's the cool on the pump...a little more choice on the insulin! Stay on point with Adam...he's watching you to see if the pump thing is really a good idea, if you think it is, he'll trust you! Love love love and hugs hugs hugs to you guys!!! Email if you need, otherwise I'll look for all the happenings in your blog!

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  8. It is such a tough decision...but once you get it, you won't be looking back friend! Good call on getting the same one as your neighbor. Supply emergencies, help with site changes...awesome!

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